There are several possible causes for a swollen knee, but most cause similar symptoms: pain, puffiness, discomfort, and difficulties moving around. Sometimes, you can treat a swollen knee at home. Other times, you’ll need medical assistance to get you back on your feet. This guide details options for swollen knee treatment to get you back to optimal wellbeing and mobility as soon as possible.
Rest and Elevation
One of the most important factors for a swollen knee is rest. Put as little weight as possible on the affected joint and try to minimize using it. Elevate your swollen knee, such as by propping it up on a foot stool, to prevent excess fluid from pooling in the joint. However, unless advised otherwise by a doctor, you generally don’t need to fully immobilize your knee; periodic gentle flexing and bending helps you retain a range of motion and prevents your knee from stiffening up. You should aim to take it easy and rest your knee for 1 to 2 days.
Ice and Heat Therapies
Ice packs are a popular swollen knee treatment, helping to minimize both swelling and pain. You can use ice therapy as soon as you notice your knee is swollen. Grab a bag of frozen vegetables out of the freezer, empty some ice cubes into a plastic bag, use a special ice pack, or freeze a small wet towel. Place a protective barrier, such as a thin towel, between the cold source and your skin to prevent frostbite, and apply ice for up to 20 minutes at regular intervals throughout the day.
If your knee swelling hasn’t gone down after a couple of days, you can start alternating ice therapy with heat therapy to aid relaxation, reduce pain, and promote healing. When using heat packs, you should be careful not to overheat them. You should also immediately stop use if heat makes your knee issue worse.
Compression
Short-term compression aids or wrapping the knee in a light elastic bandage can help remove painful swelling. You should make sure your compression aids aren’t too tight; you should still be able to bend the joint and feel your knee.
Medical Advice
If you’ve been following these home swollen knee treatment tips for several days with little to no improvement, it’s time to seek medical assistance.
Make an appointment to see your doctor if there’s been no resolution after about 3 days of trying to reduce knee swelling at home.
Non-Surgical Treatment
ViscoGen™ offers another option for those seeking relief from swollen knees in Orlando. Made up of medical professionals who have experience in knee surgery, the team now focuses on offering non-surgical solutions. This means faster recovery, reduced downtime, less invasive measures, quicker treatments, no anesthesia, and, ultimately, a faster return to normal, active life.
The professional team uses a range of techniques and treatments to soothe swollen knees, including injections, lasers, bracing, and strengthening exercises. The innovative KneeVisc 5® program includes thorough diagnostics to get to the root of your problem and treat it effectively, and the JointVisc protocol uses the same ideas to provide relief from hip, shoulder, and other joint pain.
Learn how the Orlando-based team can help you with painful and inconvenient knee conditions, and take the first steps toward getting your life back. Contact today for a consultation.
